Mitigating an effect of a downstream failure in an automatic transfer switching system

ABSTRACT

A system may comprise a first switch connected to an output of a first power source, a second switch connected to an output of a second power source, a first sensor connected to an output of the first switch, a second sensor connected to an output of the second switch, a third switch connected to the first sensor and the second sensor and connected to a load, and a control device connected to the first switch, the second switch, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third switch.

BACKGROUND

A load (e.g., a network device, a computer, a power supply module, etc.)may receive electrical current from a first power source (e.g., a powersupply module, a generator, a power plant, etc.). A second power sourcemay function as a backup for the first power source. In the event thatthe first power source fails, an automatic transfer switching (ATS)system may switch the load from being powered by the first power sourceto being powered by the second power source.

SUMMARY

According to some possible implementations, a device may include one ormore processors that may detect a failure condition in a system thatincludes a load and at least two power sources. The load may beconfigured to be powered by the system. The system may include a switchto selectively power the load using a first electrical current providedby a first power source, of the at least two power sources, or using asecond electrical current provided by a second power source of the atleast two power sources. The device may determine that the failurecondition is associated with a failure at the load. The device maytransmit a signal based on determining that the failure condition isassociated with the failure at the load. The signal may cause the switchto maintain a state of the switch when the switch receives the signal.The state may be a first state when the switch powers the load using thefirst electrical current, or the state may be a second state when theswitch powers the load using the second electrical current.

According to some possible implementations, a system may comprise afirst switch connected to an output of a first power source, a secondswitch connected to an output of a second power source, a first sensorconnected to an output of the first switch, a second sensor connected toan output of the second switch, a third switch connected to the firstsensor and the second sensor and connected to a load, and/or a controldevice connected to the first switch, the second switch, the firstsensor, the second sensor, and the third switch.

According to some possible implementations, a method may includedetecting a failure condition in a system that includes a load and atleast two power sources. The load may include a device to be powered bythe system. The system may include a switch that operates in a firststate or a second state. The switch, when in the first state, may powerthe load using a first electrical current provided by a first powersource of the at least two power sources. The switch, when in the secondstate, may power the load using a second electrical current provided bya second power source of the at least two power sources. The switch maybe in the first state or the second state. The method may includedetermining that the failure condition is associated with a failure atthe load. The method may include causing the switch to maintain thefirst state or the second state without switching between the firststate and the second state based on determining that the failurecondition is associated with a failure at the load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams of an overview of an example implementationdescribed herein;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods, described herein, may be implemented;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices of FIG.2; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process for mitigating an effect ofa downstream load failure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of example implementations refers tothe accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in differentdrawings may identify the same or similar elements.

An automatic transfer switching (ATS) system, or an alternating currenttransfer switching system (also referred to herein as an ATS system),may manage a set of power sources (e.g., power supply modules,generators, power plants, etc.) that may provide electrical current topower a load (e.g., a network device, a computer, a power supply module,etc.). The load may be described herein as being “downstream” from theset of power sources, and the set of power sources may be describedherein as being “upstream” from the load. When a first power source ofthe set of power sources fails (e.g., operates outside of a given set ofparameters), the ATS system may detect the failure, and may switch theload to be powered by a second power source of the set of power sources.In this way, the ATS improves resilience of the load against powerfailures.

However, in some cases, a failure may occur at the load. For example,the load may undergo a short circuit, a line cut scenario, or the like.The failure at the load may damage a first upstream power source thatpowers the load. In such a case, the ATS system may detect the failure,and may automatically switch the load to be powered by a second upstreampower source. The second upstream power source, in turn, may be damagedby the failure at the load.

Implementations described herein permit the ATS system to determine thatthe failure is associated with the load, based on the failure at theload causing a voltage drop and/or an amperage increase, to perform anaction to mitigate damage to the upstream power sources, and to preventfailure of the ATS system. In this way, the ATS system improves failureresilience of the ATS system and reduces a likelihood of damage tomultiple upstream power sources due to a failure associated with adownstream load.

FIGS. 1A-1C are diagrams of an overview of an example implementation 100described herein. FIGS. 1A-1C show an ATS system to provide power to aload. As shown by reference number 102, the ATS system shown in FIG. 1Aincludes 4 power sources (e.g., power source 1, power source 2, powersource 3, and power source 4). As shown by reference number 104, eachpower source is connected with a respective switch (e.g., switch 1,switch 2, switch 3, and switch 4, respectively). As further shown,switch 1 and switch 3 are closed (e.g., permitting electrical current topass), and switch 2 and switch 4 are open (e.g., not permittingelectrical current to pass).

As shown by reference number 106, power sources 1-4 and switches 1-4 maycommunicate with a control device of the ATS system. In someimplementations, the control device may control power sources 1-4 andswitches 1-4. For example, the control device may open or closeswitches, may activate power sources, may deactivate power sources, maycause a power source to change a voltage and/or amperage of anelectrical current provided by the power source, or the like.

As shown by reference number 108, power sources 1-4 are associated withcurrent sensors (e.g., current sensor 1, current sensor 2, currentsensor 3, and current sensor 4). Current sensors 1-4 may detectamperages of electrical currents supplied by power sources 1-4, and mayprovide information identifying the amperages to the control device, asshown by reference number 110.

As shown by reference number 112, the ATS system may include switch 5 toswitch the load between power sources 1 and 2, and switch 6 to switchthe load between power sources 3 and 4. As shown by reference number106, switch 5 and switch 6 may communicate with the control device. Insome implementations, the control device may control switches 5-6. Whenthe control device detects a failure of a power source, the controldevice may use switch 5 and/or switch 6 to switch the downstream load toa different power source. For example, if power source 1 fails, thecontrol device may switch the downstream load to power source 2 byactuating switch 1 (e.g., to open the line from power source 1 to switch5), switch 2 (e.g., to close the line from power source 2 to switch 5),and/or switch 5 (e.g., to open the line from power source 1 to the load,and to close the line from power source 2 to the load).

Switch 5 and switch 6 may operate in a particular state. For example,when switch 5 is closed with regard to power source 1, switch 5 may bein a first state, and when switch 5 is closed with regard to powersource 2, switch 5 may be in a second state. The control device maycontrol the states of switch 5 and switch 6.

As shown by reference number 114, the load for the ATS system mayinclude a voltage sensor. The voltage sensor may measure voltages of theelectrical currents provided by power sources 1-4 at the load. As shownby reference number 116, the voltage sensor may provide information tothe control device (e.g., information identifying voltages of theelectrical currents, information identifying changes in voltages of theelectrical currents, etc.). As further shown, the load may output anelectrical current that may be generating using power from theelectrical currents received from power sources 1-4.

As shown in FIG. 1B, and by reference number 118, a short circuit at theload may cause a voltage drop at the load, which the voltage sensor maysense. As shown by reference number 120, the short circuit may interruptan electrical current outputted by the load. As shown by referencenumber 122, the voltage sensor may provide information to the controldevice indicating that the load has experienced a voltage drop of 250volts in 1.8 milliseconds (ms). In such a scenario, power source 1and/or power source 3 may be damaged based on the short circuit at theload. Further, if the ATS system detects the voltage drop as a failureof a power source (and not a failure at the load) and switches the loadto be powered by power source 2 and/or power source 4, the ATS systemmay cause power source 2 and/or power source 4 to be damaged.

As shown by reference number 124, the control device may determine thatthe voltage drop satisfies a threshold value (e.g., a voltage change of200 volts, etc.) and occurs within a threshold amount of time (e.g., 1.8ms). As further shown, based on the voltage drop at the load satisfyingthe threshold value and/or occurring within the particular period oftime, the control device may detect a load failure condition. Here, theload failure condition is caused by the short circuit at the load.

As shown by reference number 126, the control device may cause switchesfor the upstream power sources to be opened (e.g., switch 1, switch 2,switch 3, and switch 4). As shown by reference number 128, the controldevice may cause a state of switch 5 and switch 6 to be maintained, toprevent switch 5 and switch 6 from switching the power source for theload from power source 1 to power source 2, and from power source 3 topower source 4, respectively. In some implementations, the controldevice may open switch 5 and switch 6, to interrupt the electricalcurrents of power sources 1 and 3, thus preventing damage to powersources 1 and 3. In this way, the control device prevents damage to theupstream power sources caused by a short circuit at the load, whichreduces expense associated with maintaining the upstream power sourcesand improves resilience of the ATS system.

As shown in FIG. 1C, and by reference number 130, in some cases, a shortcircuit at the load may cause an increase in amperage (e.g., a currentspike) at an upstream power source. As shown by reference number 132,current sensor 3, associated with power source 3, provides an amperagemeasurement to the control device indicating that amperage has increasedfrom 80 amps to 900 amps in 1.3 ms. As shown by reference number 134,the control device may determine that the current spike satisfies athreshold value (e.g., ten times an average load, etc.), and occurswithin a threshold amount of time (e.g., 1.8 ms or less, in this case).

As further shown, the control device may determine that the currentspike satisfies a load failure condition based on the current spikesatisfying the threshold value and occurring within the particularperiod of time, and may disconnect power sources 1, 2, 3, and 4 byopening switches 1 and 3, as shown by reference number 136. As furthershown, the control device may not switch the load from power source 1 topower source 2, and may not switch the load from power source 3 to powersource 4 (e.g., may cause switch 5 and switch 6 to maintain theirrespective states). In this way, the control device prevents damage tothe upstream power sources based on detecting a failure at the load,which reduces expense associated with repairing the upstream powersources and improves resilience of the ATS system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example environment 200 in which systemsand/or methods, described herein, may be implemented. As shown in FIG.2, environment 200 may include one or more sensors 210-1 through 210-M(M≧1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as “sensors 210,” andindividually as “sensor 210”), a load 220, one or more switches 230-1through 230-N (N≧1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as “switches230,” and individually as “switch 230”), one or more power sources 240-1through 240-P (P≧1) (hereinafter referred to collectively as “powersources 240,” and individually as “power source 240”), and a controldevice 250. Devices of environment 200 may interconnect via wiredconnections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. FIG. 2 shows five sensors 210, six switches 230,and four power sources 240. However, in some implementations,environment 200 may include a different quantity and/or arrangement ofsensors 210, loads 220, switches 230, and/or power sources 240. For thepurpose of FIG. 2, types of devices of environment 200 that maycommunicate are connected by a dashed line. For example, a dashed linebetween sensor 210-4 and control device 250 indicates that controldevice 250 is capable of communicating with sensors 210-1, 210-2, 210-3,210-4, and 210-5.

Sensor 210 may include a device capable of detecting a voltage valueand/or an amperage value of an electrical current. For example, sensor210 may include a current sensor, a voltage sensor, an impedance sensor,or the like. In some implementations, sensor 210 may be associated with(e.g., included in, placed downstream from, etc.) power source 240.Additionally, or alternatively, sensor 210 may be associated with (e.g.,included in, placed downstream from, etc.) load 220. In someimplementations, sensor 210 may receive information from and/or transmitinformation to another device of environment 200.

Load 220 may include a device that receives power from power source 240.For example, load 220 may include a user device (e.g., a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, a mobile device, a gaming device, etc.), anetwork device (e.g., a router, a gateway, a firewall, a server, anaccess point, etc.), a bulk capacitor, an appliance, a vehicle, a pieceof industrial equipment, a power supply module, or another type ofdevice. In some implementations, load 220 may receive information fromand/or transmit information to another device of environment 200.

Switch 230 may include a device capable of interrupting an electricalcurrent and/or diverting an electrical current from a first line to asecond line. For example, switch 230 may include a relay (e.g., amechanical relay, a solid-state relay, etc.), a circuit breaker, a fuse,a power transistor, a silicon-controlled rectifier, a bi-directionalswitch, a triode for alternating current, or the like. In someimplementations, switch 230 may receive information from and/or transmitinformation to another device of environment 200.

Power source 240 may include a device capable of providing electricalcurrent. For example, power source 240 may include an alternatingcurrent (AC) power supply module, a direct current (DC) power supplymodule, a power plant, a generator, or the like. In someimplementations, power source 240 may include one or more sensors 210and/or switches 230. In some implementations, power source 240 mayreceive information from and/or transmit information to another deviceof environment 200.

Control device 250 may include a device capable of receiving,generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information. Forexample, control device 250 may include an integrated circuit, anapplication-specific integrated circuit, a processor, a control circuit,a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or another type of device thatis capable of controlling operation of switches 230. In someimplementations, control device 250 may receive information from and/ortransmit information to another device of environment 200.

The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 2 areprovided as an example. In practice, there may be additional devicesand/or networks, fewer devices and/or networks, different devices and/ornetworks, or differently arranged devices and/or networks than thoseshown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, two or more devices shown in FIG. 2 may beimplemented within a single device, or a single device shown in FIG. 2may be implemented as multiple, distributed devices. Additionally, oralternatively, a set of devices (e.g., one or more devices) ofenvironment 200 may perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by another set of devices of environment 200.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of example components of a device 300. Device 300may correspond to sensor 210, load 220, switch 230, power source 240,and/or control device 250. In some implementations, sensor 210, load220, switch 230, power source 240, and/or control device 250 may includeone or more devices 300 and/or one or more components of device 300. Asshown in FIG. 3, device 300 may include a bus 310, a processor 320, amemory 330, a storage component 340, an input component 350, an outputcomponent 360, and a communication interface 370.

Bus 310 may include a component that permits communication among thecomponents of device 300. Processor 320 is implemented in hardware,firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. Processor 320 mayinclude a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), etc.), amicroprocessor, and/or any processing component (e.g., afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), etc.) that interprets and/or executes instructions. Insome implementations, processor 320 may include one or more processorsthat can be programmed to perform a function. Memory 330 may include arandom access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and/or anothertype of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, amagnetic memory, an optical memory, etc.) that stores information and/orinstructions for use by processor 320.

Storage component 340 may store information and/or software related tothe operation and use of device 300. For example, storage component 340may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, amagneto-optic disk, a solid state disk, etc.), a compact disc (CD), adigital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetictape, and/or another type of computer-readable medium, along with acorresponding drive.

Input component 350 may include a component that permits device 300 toreceive information, such as via user input (e.g., a touch screendisplay, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, amicrophone, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, input component 350may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioningsystem (GPS) component, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an actuator,etc.). Output component 360 may include a component that provides outputinformation from device 300 (e.g., a display, a speaker, one or morelight-emitting diodes (LEDs), etc.).

Communication interface 370 may include a transceiver-like component(e.g., a transceiver, a separate receiver and transmitter, etc.) thatenables device 300 to communicate with other devices, such as via awired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired andwireless connections. Communication interface 370 may permit device 300to receive information from another device and/or provide information toanother device. For example, communication interface 370 may include anEthernet interface, an optical interface, a coaxial interface, aninfrared interface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, a universal serialbus (USB) interface, a Wi-Fi interface, a cellular network interface, orthe like.

Device 300 may perform one or more processes described herein. Device300 may perform these processes in response to processor 320 executingsoftware instructions stored by a computer-readable medium, such asmemory 330 and/or storage component 340. A computer-readable medium isdefined herein as a non-transitory memory device. A memory deviceincludes memory space within a single physical storage device or memoryspace spread across multiple physical storage devices.

Software instructions may be read into memory 330 and/or storagecomponent 340 from another computer-readable medium or from anotherdevice via communication interface 370. When executed, softwareinstructions stored in memory 330 and/or storage component 340 may causeprocessor 320 to perform one or more processes described herein.Additionally, or alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in placeof or in combination with software instructions to perform one or moreprocesses described herein. Thus, implementations described herein arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry andsoftware.

The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 3 are provided asan example. In practice, device 300 may include additional components,fewer components, different components, or differently arrangedcomponents than those shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, or alternatively, aset of components (e.g., one or more components) of device 300 mayperform one or more functions described as being performed by anotherset of components of device 300.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example process 400 for mitigating aneffect of a downstream load failure. In some implementations, one ormore process blocks of FIG. 4 may be performed by control device 250. Insome implementations, one or more process blocks of FIG. 4 may beperformed by another device or a group of devices separate from orincluding control device 250, such as sensor 210, load 220, switch 230,and/or power source 240.

As shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include monitoring voltage valuesand/or amperage values for a load and/or two or more power sources thatsupply power to the load (block 410). For example, control device 250may monitor voltage values and/or amperage values relating to load 220and/or one or more power sources 240. Control device 250 may monitor thevoltage values and/or amperage values based on measurements from sensors210. For example, sensors 210 may detect the voltage values and/oramperage values (e.g., at load 220, at power source 240, downstream frompower source 240 and upstream from load 220, etc.), and may provide thevoltage values and/or amperage values to control device 250. In someimplementations, control device 250 may process the voltage valuesand/or amperage values. For example, control device 250 may determine amoving average of a voltage value and/or an amperage value, a peakvoltage value and/or amperage value, a weighted average of a voltagevalue and/or amperage value, a minimum voltage value and/or amperagevalue, a root mean square of a voltage value and/or an amperage value,an occurrence of a spike in voltage values and/or amperage values, orthe like.

In some implementations, control device 250 may determine whether anelectrical current is routed via a particular path based on the voltagevalues and/or amperage values. For example, control device 250 may causean electrical current to be routed via a particular path via operationof switches 230. Control device 250 may obtain information from sensors210 that are located along the particular path, and may determinewhether the electrical current is routed along the particular path. Forexample, if the information indicates that no electrical current ispresent on the particular path, control device 250 may cause theelectrical current to be rerouted, may cause a worker to be dispatchedto the ATS system to determine why no electrical current is present onthe particular path, or the like.

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include detecting a loadfailure condition relating to the load (block 420). For example, controldevice 250 may detect a load failure condition relating to load 220. Aload failure condition may be associated with a failure at load 220,such as a short circuit of load 220, a malfunction of load 220, afailure of load 220 to perform at an expected level, or the like.Control device 250 may detect the load failure condition based onvoltage values and/or amperage values associated with load 220. Forexample, control device 250 may detect the load failure condition basedon a voltage value and/or an amperage value obtained by a sensor 210that is downstream from power source 240, based on a voltage valueand/or an amperage value obtained by sensor 210 that is included in load220, or the like.

In some implementations, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on an amperage value. For example, control device 250may detect a load failure condition based on an amperage satisfying athreshold amperage value (e.g., a maximum allowable amperage value, suchas 1000% of an expected amperage value, or the like). In this way,control device 250 may determine a load failure condition based on amaximum amperage value, which permits control device 250 to preventdamage to power sources 240 that may be caused by a peak amperage, whichreduces expenses associated with maintaining power sources 240.

As another example, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on an amperage value satisfying a threshold for athreshold amount of time (e.g., 1000% of an expected amperage value fora period of at least 2 ms, 200% of an expected amperage value for aperiod of at least 50 ms, etc.). In this way, control device 250 maydetermine a load failure condition based on an amperage value that issustained over time, which permits control device 250 to prevent damageto power sources 240 that may be caused by a sustained amperage, andreduces expenses associated with maintaining power sources 240.

As another example, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on a change in amperage (e.g., a change from a firstamperage value to a second amperage value, a change from a firstamperage value to a second amperage value in a threshold amount of time,a percent change in an amperage value, etc.). By detecting the loadfailure condition based on the change in amperage, control device 250prevents damage to power sources 240 based on rapid changes in amperagesupplied to load 220, which reduces expenses associated with maintainingpower sources 240.

In some implementations, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on a voltage value. For example, control device 250 maydetect a load failure condition based on a voltage satisfying athreshold voltage value (e.g., a minimum voltage value, such as 80volts, 25% of an expected voltage value, or the like). In this way,control device 250 may determine a load failure condition based on asudden drop in voltage at load 220, which permits control device 250 toprevent damage to power sources 240 that may be caused by a peakvoltage, and reduces expenses associated with maintaining power sources240.

As another example, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on a voltage value satisfying a threshold for athreshold amount of time (e.g., 25% of an expected voltage value for aperiod of at least 2 ms, less than or equal to 50 volts for a period of50 ms, etc.). In this way, control device 250 may determine a loadfailure condition based on a voltage value that is sustained over time,which permits control device 250 to prevent damage to power sources 240that may be caused by a sustained voltage drop, and reduces expensesassociated with maintaining power sources 240.

As another example, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on a change in voltage (e.g., a change from a firstvoltage value to a second voltage value, a change from a first voltagevalue to a second voltage value in a threshold amount of time, a percentchange in a voltage value, etc.). By detecting the load failurecondition based on the change in voltage, control device 250 preventsdamage to power sources 240 based on rapid changes in voltage at load220, which reduces expenses associated with maintaining power sources240.

In some implementations, control device 250 may detect a load failurecondition based on a combination of a voltage value and an amperagevalue. For example, in some cases, a voltage value and an amperage valuefor load 220 may change at different times (e.g., the amperage value mayincrease before the voltage value decreases, the voltage value maydecrease before the amperage value increases, etc.). In such cases,control device 250 may detect the change in the voltage value and thechange in the amperage value, and may detect a load failure conditionaccordingly. Additionally, or alternatively, control device 250 maydetect a first change in one value (e.g., a voltage value or an amperagevalue), and may begin monitoring for a subsequent change in the othervalue (e.g., an amperage value or a voltage value). In this way, controldevice 250 monitors load 220 for failures based on amperage values andvoltage values, which increases likelihood of detecting a load failurecondition and, thus, saves time and money used for maintaining powersources 240.

In some implementations, control device 250 may determine a thresholdfor a load failure condition. For example, control device 250 may obtainvoltage values and/or amperage values for the ATS system, and maydetermine expected voltage values and/or amperage values based on theobtained voltage values and/or amperage values. Control device 250 maydetermine thresholds for the voltage values and/or amperage values basedon the expected voltage values and/or amperage values.

For example, control device 250 may determine to detect a load failurecondition based on a threshold amperage value and a threshold amount oftime (e.g., when an amperage value of an electrical current associatedwith switch 230 increases to more than 1000% of an expected amperagevalue in less than 1.8 milliseconds, in less than 100 microseconds,etc.). As another example control device 250 may determine to detect aload failure condition when a voltage value associated with load 220decreases to satisfy a threshold value (e.g., decreases to 80 volts,decreases by 250 volts in a particular period of time, etc.).

As further shown in FIG. 4, process 400 may include performing an actionto mitigate an effect of the failure on the two or more upstream powersources (block 430). For example, control device 250 may perform anaction to mitigate an effect of the failure on power sources 240. Insome implementations, control device 250 may transmit a signal toanother device, to cause the other device to perform an action. Forexample, control device 250 may transmit a failure message to powersource 240 to cause power source 240 to stop providing an electricalcurrent to load 220 or to cause power source 240 to modify theelectrical current, may provide a failure message to a user device forthe user device to provide to a user, or the like.

In some implementations, control device 250 may cause switch 230 toperform an action. For example, control device 250 may cause switch 230to interrupt an electrical current, may cause switch 230 to maintain astate of switch 230 (e.g., not to switch load 220 from a first powersource 240 to a second power source 240), or the like. In this way,control device 250 mitigates an effect of a downstream failure (e.g., ashort circuit) at load 220 on power sources 240, which improvesresilience of the system and reduces expense associated with repairingthe power sources 240.

In some implementations, control device 250 may cause all switches 230to interrupt the respective electrical currents with which they areconnected. Additionally, or alternatively, control device 250 may causea subset of the switches 230 to open (e.g., switches 1 and 3 in FIGS.1A-1C), and other switches 230 to maintain a current open/closed state(e.g., switches 5 and 6 in FIGS. 1A-1C). Additionally, or alternatively,control device 250 may re-route power based on the load failurecondition. For example, control device 250 may actuate one or moreswitches 230 to power load 220 from a different power source 240 basedon the load failure condition (e.g., a cheaper power source 240, a moreresilient power source 240, etc.). In this way, control device 250mitigates an effect of a downstream failure (e.g., a short circuit) atload 220 on power sources 240, which improves resilience of the systemand reduces expense associated with repairing the power sources 240.

Although FIG. 4 shows example blocks of process 400, in someimplementations, process 400 may include additional blocks, fewerblocks, different blocks, or differently arranged blocks than thosedepicted in FIG. 4. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of theblocks of process 400 may be performed in parallel.

In this way, an ATS system improves failure resilience of the ATS systemand reduces a likelihood of damage to multiple upstream power sourcesdue to a failure associated with a downstream load.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but isnot intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to theprecise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible inlight of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of theimplementations.

As used herein, the term component is intended to be broadly construedas hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some implementations are described herein in connection with thresholds.As used herein, satisfying a threshold may refer to a value beinggreater than the threshold, more than the threshold, higher than thethreshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than thethreshold, fewer than the threshold, lower than the threshold, less thanor equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, etc.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods, described herein, maybe implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, or acombination of hardware and software. The actual specialized controlhardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methodsis not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behaviorof the systems and/or methods were described herein without reference tospecific software code—it being understood that software and hardwarecan be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based on thedescription herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of possible implementations. In fact,many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recitedin the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, thedisclosure of possible implementations includes each dependent claim incombination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed ascritical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as usedherein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore,as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items(e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related andunrelated items, etc.), and may be used interchangeably with “one ormore.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similarlanguage is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,”“having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, thephrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

1. A device, comprising: one or more processors to: detect a failurecondition in a system that includes a load and at least four powersources, the load being powered by the system, and the system includingat least a first switch and a second switch, the first switch toselectively power the load using a first electrical current provided bya first power source, of the at least four power sources, or using asecond electrical current provided by a second power source of the atleast four power sources, and the second switch causing the load to bepowered using a third electrical current or a fourth electrical current, the third electrical current and the fourth electrical current beingprovided by a third power source and a fourth power source,respectively, of the at least four power sources; determine that thefailure condition is associated with a failure at the load; and transmita signal based on determining that the failure condition is associatedwith the failure at the load, the signal causing the first switch tomaintain a state of the first switch when the first switch receives thesignal, the state being a first state when the first switch powers theload using the first electrical current, or the state being a secondstate when the first switch powers the load using the second electricalcurrent.
 2. The device of claim 1, where the one or more processors,when detecting the failure condition, are to: detect the failurecondition based on information received from a sensor that is includedin the load, the information received from the sensor including avoltage value.
 3. The device of claim 2, where the one or moreprocessors, when detecting the failure condition, are to: determine thatthe voltage value satisfies a threshold, the threshold relating to atleast one of: a minimum voltage value, a maximum voltage value, a changein a voltage value, or an amount of time.
 4. The device of claim 1,where the one or more processors, when detecting the failure condition,are to: detect the failure condition based on an amperage value receivedfrom a sensor, the sensor determining the amperage value based on atleast one of the first electrical current or the second electricalcurrent.
 5. The device of claim 4, where the one or more processors,when detecting the failure condition, are to: determine that theamperage value satisfies a threshold, the threshold relating to at leastone of: a minimum amperage value, a maximum amperage value, a change inan amperage value, or an amount of time.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherethe one or more processors are further to: cause a third switch tointerrupt at least one of the first electrical current or the secondelectrical current.
 7. The device of claim 1, where the one or moreprocessors are further to: cause at least one of the first power sourceor the second power source to stop providing the first electricalcurrent or the second electrical current, respectively, based ondetermining that the failure condition is associated with the failure atthe load.
 8. A system, comprising: a first switch connected to an outputof a first power source; a second switch connected to an output of asecond power source; a first sensor connected to an output of the firstswitch; a second sensor connected to an output of the second switch; athird switch connected to the first sensor and the second sensor andconnected to a load; a fourth switch connected to an output of a thirdpower source; a fifth switch connected to an output of a fourth powersource; a third sensor connected to an output of the third switch; afourth sensor connected to an output of the fourth switch; a sixthswitch connected to the third sensor and the fourth sensor and connectedto the load; and a control device connected to the first switch, thesecond switch, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the thirdswitch.
 9. The system of claim 8, where the first sensor, the secondsensor, the third sensor, and the fourth sensor comprise at least oneof: a voltage sensor, or a current sensor.
 10. (canceled)
 11. The systemof claim 8, where the control device is connected to the third sensorand the fourth sensor.
 12. The system of claim 8, where the controldevice is connected to the fourth switch, the fifth switch, and thesixth switch.
 13. The system of claim 8, where the control device isconnected to the first power source and the second power source.
 14. Thesystem of claim 8, where the control device actuates the first switch,the second switch, or the third switch.
 15. A method, comprising:detecting, by a control device, a failure condition in a system thatincludes a load and at least four power sources, the load including adevice to be powered by the system, and the system including at least afirst switch and a second switch, the first switch operating in a firststate or a second state, the first switch, when in the first state,powering the load using a first electrical current provided by a firstpower source of the at least four power sources, the first switch, whenin the second state, powering the load using a second electrical currentprovided by a second power source of the at least four power sources,and the first switch being in the first state or the second state, andthe second switch causing the load to be powered using a thirdelectrical current or a fourth electrical current, the third electricalcurrent and the fourth electrical current being provided by a thirdpower source and a fourth power source, respectively, of the at leastfour power sources; determining, by the control device, that the failurecondition is associated with a failure at the load; and causing, by thecontrol device, the first switch to maintain the first state or thesecond state without switching between the first state and the secondstate based on determining that the failure condition is associated withGall the failure at the load.
 16. The method of claim 15, wheredetecting the failure condition comprises: obtaining a measurement fromone or more sensors, the one or more sensors determining the measurementbased on one or more of: the first electrical current, the secondelectrical current, or an electrical current outputted by the load. 17.The method of claim 16, where obtaining the measurement comprises:obtaining at least one of: a voltage value associated with theelectrical current outputted by the load, an amperage value of theelectrical current outputted by the load, a voltage value associatedwith the first electrical current, an amperage value of the firstelectrical current, a voltage value associated with the secondelectrical current, or an amperage value of the second electricalcurrent.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: causing thefirst electrical current or the second electrical current to be routedvia a particular path; and determining whether the first electricalcurrent or the second electrical current is routed via the particularpath based on the measurement.
 19. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: causing two other switches to interrupt the first electricalcurrent and the second electrical current, a first other switch, of thetwo other switches, being associated with the first power source, and asecond other switch, of the two other switches, being associated withthe second power source.
 20. (canceled)
 21. The method of claim 15,where determining that the failure condition is associated with thefailure at the load comprises: determining that the failure condition isassociated with the failure at the load based on at least one of avoltage drop at the load satisfying a threshold value or the voltagedrop occurring within a threshold quantity of time.
 22. The system ofclaim 8, where the control device receives information from a voltagesensor associated with the load.